Sr3yas's Reviews > Far From the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
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really liked it
bookshelves: bbc-100, hall-of-fame-2017, choice

Love is a possible strength in an actual weakness.

This is the tale of Bathsheba Everdene, a proud, independent and disarmingly beautiful woman who inherited her uncle's vast farm. Fearlessly, she enters men's world of farming and becomes mistress of the farm. She attracts different suitors between this transformation: Gabriel Oak, a hardworking and faithful shepherd, William Boldwood, a middle-aged bachelor with dignity and Sergeant Frank Troy, a flirtatious soldier.

For me, the story was an experience. Tomas Hardy's excellent writing transports you to Victorian England's beautiful farmlands filled with interesting and unique characters. I was reading as well as listening to an exceptional Librivox recording of the story at same time. This beautiful combination truly formed a trance like experience, creating a tangible connection between the characters and the reader. I listened to last 5 hours of 14 hour-long audiobook without a single break. I felt their pride, temptation, hopelessness, pain, insanity and love.

The story's strength lies in its characters and beautiful narration. As most of the readers, my favorite character was Gabriel Oak because of his calm and consistent nature throughout the story. (view spoiler)

But Bathsheba was something else entirely. I am still not sure what to think of that character! I despised her vanity, applauded her courage and independent nature, saddened by her pain. But most of the time I was confused by her action and thoughts.

Thomas Hardy is a wonderful writer. His subtle humor, physiological understanding of his characters and ability to transform the shade of story from pleasant to tragedy and vice versa is astonishing. Some of my favorite chapters were (view spoiler)

When I finished the story, I stepped out, half expecting to find myself in lush mountains enveloped by calm breeze. Well, capital city's harsh traffic did a great job breaking that trance, of course.
"You were all but mine, and now you are not nearly mine. Everything is changed, and that by you alone, remember. You were nothing to me once, and I was contented; you are now nothing to me again, and how different the second nothing is from the first!"

Love is a possible strength.

Possible.
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Reading Progress

January 22, 2017 – Shelved
January 23, 2017 – Started Reading
February 11, 2017 –
page 140
33.73% "Weird Victorian word play #22

"It was an opportunity. Exhibiting a face pregnant with intention, he entered the snowy field""
February 26, 2017 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-11 of 11 (11 new)

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message 1: by Tarinee (new)

Tarinee lovely review Sreyas


Sr3yas Thank you, Tarinee :)


message 3: by Ranil (new)

Ranil Dev K S superb


Sr3yas Thanks, mate!


message 5: by Hamad (new)

Hamad Rasheed wow . since when did you start writing so well ??
awesome review


Sr3yas Hehe, reading so many well written stories kind of does that to a person!


message 7: by Anish (new)

Anish Kohli "You were all but mine, and now you are not nearly mine. Everything is changed, and that by you alone, remember. You were nothing to me once, and I was contented; you are now nothing to me again, and how different the second nothing is from the first"

THIS..!!!!

Great review man. :)


message 8: by Sr3yas (last edited Feb 28, 2017 07:35AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Sr3yas Thanks, mate. I actually paused my audio book and just sat there for a moment after reading that part!


message 9: by Anish (new)

Anish Kohli Sreyas wrote: "Thanks, mate. I actually paused my audio book and just sat there for a moment after reading that part!"

I can see that happening, it's an AMAZING line, that. :)


message 10: by Supratim (new)

Supratim Good review, Sreyas!


Sr3yas Thank you, Supratim :)


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